1er Arrondissement: Gardens

Here are some gardens to get you through your weekly case of the Mondays. If you are on the east coast, enjoy these not-as-ominous-looking skies and stay safe!

There are 2 gardens in the 1st - the Palais Royal gardens + the Tuileries gardens. As you gaze through these beauuuuutiful images, take note of the garden design. The French are known for displaying order/control over nature in their gardens (much different than English. DO YOU EVEN CARE ABOUT THIS? To my mom and aunts, this is for you/you already know this I've seen your coffee table books....)

The Palais Royal gardens are tucked away behind the Palais Royal. They are definitely lesser known than the Tuileries, so if you're in the area and looking for a peaceful, non-crowded spot to take a break, this is it. The garden is also surrounded by cafes and shops (some very specialized - i.e. pipes, medals, high fashion vintage- all very expensive but great window shopping) for those looking to spend a pretty penny!

My favorite fun fact about this garden is that when it became public (it was previously in royal possession) in the late 1700s, it was closed to the police. That makes no sense to me; the French are sassy and I like it.

Okay so the biggie in the neighborhood is definitely the Tuileries garden. The Tuileries are located just outside of the Louvre. They are beautifully curated - the gardens themselves are a piece of art dotted with a wide range of sculptures.

The gardens were created by Catherine de Medici in 1564 for the Tuileries Palace (destroyed in 1871). They continued to evolve into what they are today... obviously. They display the French ideal of the "promenade" - the main feature being wide avenues for walking. Back in the day, wealthy Parisians would go here and judge each other (let's be real, I'm calling the "see and be seen" thing for what it was). 

A perfect stop for a little refreshment.

I love these pools that mark the beginning and end of the gardens. It's a great spot for relaxation and people watching. My newest favorite are people who take pictures with IPADS. I just can't with that.

Here is a prime example of that "order and control" thing I was telling you about. It looks like they literally just took a chainsaw through the middle of a hedge (I'm sure it was more delicate than that...). 

Also, this happened over the weekend, and I am not ashamed.

Have a great week!

xo L